TWO CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY FARMERS HONORED

Lawrence McBryde keeps erosion to a minimum on his farm near Jackson, Mo.

He has constructed ponds for erosion control and livestock water. He uses rotational grazing practices and sound pasture- and hay-management techniques.

McBryde was honored for land practices at the family's 500-acre farm during a Cape Girardeau County Soil and Water Conservation District's open house Wednesday.

He received the Outstanding Conservation Farmer of the Year Award.

McBryde's award was one of two presented during the annual awards meeting Wednesday. Glen Birk received the group's award for water management.

McBryde and his family manage and farm about 500 acres of pasture and hay land. His cow-calf operation contains about 100 cows.

In addition to farm pounds, McBryde has a number of terraces on the farm to prevent erosion onto fields that are occasionally planted with grain crops.

McBryde also has been active with the Soil and Water Conservation District. He has served on the district's board of supervisors for 12 years. As chairman of the board, he started and managed a new state cost-share program that helps Cape Girardeau County farmers install conservation practices. The program has accounted for about $8 million worth of practices being applied to county farmers since 1984.

Birk uses conservation tillage and crop rotation to conserve soil and water on more than 600 acres each year.

Birk and his family farm almost 2,000 acres in Cape Girardeau County in an operation that includes production of grain, hogs, and beef cattle.

The Birks operate a waste-management system on more than 230 acres of cropland. The Birks maintain 18 acres of wetland on a farm near Delta. Additionally, Birk manages 12 Conservation Reserve Program contracts that help improve wildlife habitat on more than 800 acres.

Birk offers his services to the Soil and Water Conservation District board of supervisors and the Southeast Missouri District Fair Board.